A dramatic fire aboard the 41-metre superyacht Sea Lady II rocked the Port of Saint-Tropez late Sunday night, prompting full evacuation of the quayside and raising serious environmental concerns due to the vessel’s massive fuel load.

What began as a routine mooring at the Epi quay quickly spiralled into a major emergency just after 20:00, when a harbour staff member noticed a burning smell. Within minutes, flames erupted aboard the yacht, which had recently refuelled with over 27,000 litres of diesel. Crew members attempted to contain the blaze, but the fire rapidly tore through several decks and reached the fuel tanks, intensifying the inferno.

Despite early firefighting efforts, the flames reignited around 22:00, and by 23:30, thick smoke forced the closure of restaurant terraces along the Mistral and Jean-Jaurès quays. By midnight, all port-side establishments had been evacuated, leaving one of the Riviera’s liveliest harbours eerily silent.

Firefighters battled the blaze through the night, finally stabilising the situation around 2:00, though a persistent 150-degree hotspot in the engine room continued to require foam suppression into Monday morning.

Environmental protection measures were swiftly deployed, with anti-pollution booms placed around the vessel and a filtration barrier installed at the harbour entrance to prevent chemical spread. A specialist maritime pollution unit was also brought in to contain any potential fuel leakage from the scorched superyacht.

While no injuries have been reported, the incident is a jarring wake-up call for other luxury harbours along the Côte d’Azur — particularly neighbouring Monaco, where the Port Hercule and the Yacht Club regularly host similarly fuel-laden vessels.

With the height of the Mediterranean yachting season underway, the Sea Lady II fire serves as a cautionary tale for Monaco’s own emergency preparedness and environmental defences. As the Principality continues to position itself at the forefront of sustainability and maritime innovation, such events underscore the high stakes when luxury meets high-octane risk.

Local authorities in Saint-Tropez are now investigating the cause of the blaze. The full extent of environmental damage remains to be assessed.

Image: RR